Water drain management apparatus used with autoclaves, sterilizers or other devices in a clinical facility

Abstract

A water drain management apparatus used in clinical facility ( 43 ) or other facility includes a manifold plumbing fitting ( 32, 272, 384 ). The fitting includes a plurality of drain outlet connections for water discharge devices ( 40, 42, 222, 226, 230, 234 ). Such water discharge devices may include devices such as autoclaves, sterilizers, cleaners, washers, filters, humidifiers, condensing devices and other devices used in the facility. A plurality of drain fitting openings in the body of the fitting are connectable to respective water discharge devices, and openings that are not utilized are closable with plugs. Some manifold fittings ( 272, 344, 384, 482 ) include an air gap opening ( 288, 360, 392, 530 ). These configurations provide an air gap that prevents contamination due to back flow of water within the fitting reaching water discharge devices or the body inlet of the manifold fitting.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus comprising:
 a manifold plumbing fitting configured to be positioned in connection with a drain line below a sink drain and above a drain trap, wherein the plumbing fitting includes:
 an annular body, wherein the body includes an interior area, wherein in an operative position the body is configured to extend along a generally vertical axis, 
 a body inlet, wherein the body inlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable at least one of air and water from the sink drain, to enter the interior area, 
 a body outlet, wherein the body outlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable water to pass out of the interior area toward the trap, 
 wherein the interior area extends annularly and radially outward relative to the axis beyond the body inlet and the body outlet, 
 wherein an inlet end portion of the interior area is bounded within the body by an annular tapered funnel surface, wherein the funnel surface includes a central funnel opening and is configured such that the annular tapered funnel surface is closer to the axis with closer proximity to the body outlet, 
 a plurality of drain fitting openings that extend through the body to the inlet end portion of the interior area, wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is disposed axially from and in the operative position of the plumbing fitting, above the annular tapered funnel surface, 
 wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is configured to receive either
 a drain fitting operatively connected to a water discharge device other than a sink, or 
 a plug, 
 
 wherein the body includes an air gap opening, wherein the air gap opening is operative to cause the interior area to be open to atmosphere and enables water that moves up into the interior area from the body outlet to pass outside of the interior area and the body therethrough, 
 wherein in the operative position of the plumbing fitting the air gap opening is vertically above the body outlet and vertically below each of the drain fitting openings and the body inlet. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a shield, wherein the shield extends in the interior area radially intermediate of the air gap opening and the central funnel opening. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 
 wherein the shield extends axially in the interior area and in an operative position of the plumbing fitting, the shield extends above and below the air gap opening. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 2  and further including
 a generally annular spout,
 wherein the shield includes an outer surface of the generally annular spout, 
 wherein the spout has an interior passage that extends in the interior area from the central funnel opening toward the body outlet, 
 wherein the spout includes a discharge opening disposed at an opposed end of the spout from the central funnel opening. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 
 wherein the discharge opening in the interior area is axially disposed away from the body outlet. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 
 wherein in an operative position of the plumbing fitting the discharge opening is disposed vertically below the air gap opening. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 
 wherein the spout is bounded radially by a generally annular spout wall, 
 wherein the spout wall includes at least one spout outlet through the spout wall that extends axially intermediate of the central funnel opening and the discharge opening, wherein each at least one spout outlet is angularly disposed away from the air gap opening. 
 
     
     
       8. Apparatus comprising:
 a manifold plumbing fitting configured to be positioned in connection with a drain line below a sink drain and above a drain trap, wherein the plumbing fitting includes:
 an annular body, wherein the body includes an interior area, wherein in an operative position the body is configured to extend along a generally vertical axis, 
 a body inlet, wherein the body inlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable at least one of air and water from the sink drain, to enter the interior area, 
 a body outlet, wherein the body outlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable water to pass out of the interior area toward the trap, 
 wherein the interior area extends annularly and radially outward relative to the axis beyond the body inlet and the body outlet, 
 wherein an inlet end portion of the interior area is bounded within the body by an annular tapered funnel surface, wherein the funnel surface includes a central funnel opening and is configured such that the annular tapered funnel surface is closer to the axis with closer proximity to the body outlet, 
 a plurality of drain fitting openings that extend through the body to the inlet end portion of the interior area, wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is disposed axially from and above the annular tapered funnel surface in the operative position, 
 wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is configured to receive either
 a drain fitting operatively connected to a water discharge device other than a sink, or 
 a plug, 
 
 wherein the body includes an air gap opening, wherein the air gap opening is operative to cause the interior area to be open to atmosphere and enables water that moves up into the interior area from the body outlet to pass outside of the interior area and the body therethrough, 
 wherein in the operative position the air gap opening is vertically above the body outlet and vertically below each of the drain fitting openings and the body inlet, 
 
 a generally annular spout,
 wherein the spout includes a generally annular spout wall that bounds an interior passage that extends axially from the central funnel opening toward the body outlet to a discharge opening, 
 wherein the discharge opening is
 axially disposed away from the body outlet, and 
 in the operative position of the plumbing fitting, disposed vertically below the air gap opening, 
 
 wherein the generally annular spout wall includes
 an outer surface that extends radially intermediate of the air gap opening and the central funnel opening, and in the operative position axially above and below the air gap opening, 
 at least one spout outlet, wherein the at least one spout outlet includes an elongated slot, 
 wherein the elongated slot extends through the spout wall angularly disposed away from the air gap opening and axially from the discharge opening toward the central funnel opening. 
 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 
 wherein the elongated slot extends through the spout wall on a side generally opposite the air gap opening. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 9 
 wherein the body includes a cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion includes a cylindrical inner wall, 
 at least one axially elongated fin in the interior area, wherein the at least one fin extends radially intermediate of the cylindrical inner wall and the spout wall, 
 wherein the at least one fin is disposed angularly intermediate of the air gap opening and the elongated slot. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 
 wherein at least one fin is disposed on each opposed angular side of the elongated slot angularly intermediate of the elongated slot and the air gap opening. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 
 wherein the at least one fin extends radially outwardly from the generally annular spout wall. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 11 
 wherein at least one fin extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical inner wall. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 13 
 wherein at least one fin extends radially outwardly from the generally annular spout wall. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 11 
 wherein at least one fin extends continuously both above and below the air gap opening in the operative position of the plumbing fitting. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 15 
 wherein the air gap opening includes a shape that is at least one of
 rectangular, 
 V-shaped, and 
 T-shaped. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 15 
 wherein the air gap opening is configured such that in the operative position of the plumbing fitting, the air gap opening is bigger with closer proximity along the axis to the body inlet. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 15 
 wherein the interior area includes an outlet end portion, wherein the outlet end portion is axially disposed from the inlet end portion, 
 wherein the outlet end portion of the interior area is bounded by an annularly tapered wall surface, wherein the annularly tapered wall surface is configured such that in the operative position of the plumbing fitting, the annularly tapered wall surface is closer to the axis with closer proximity to the body outlet. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 18 
 wherein at least a portion of the spout extends in the outlet end portion of the interior area. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 18 
 wherein the generally annular spout wall is axially angularly tapered on a side angularly disposed away from the air gap opening such that the annular spout wall is open continuously between the discharge opening and the elongated slot. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus according to  claim 18 
 and further including the water discharge device, 
 wherein the water discharge device includes at least one of
 an autoclave, 
 a sterilizer, 
 an ultrasonic cleaner, 
 an instrument washer, 
 a model trimmer, 
 a deionizing filter, 
 a reverse osmosis filter, 
 a cooler, and 
 a liquid condenser heat sink. 
 
 
     
     
       22. Apparatus comprising:
 a manifold plumbing fitting configured to be positioned in connection with a drain line above a drain trap, wherein the plumbing fitting includes:
 an annular body, wherein the body includes an interior area, wherein in an operative position the body is configured to extend along a generally vertical axis, 
 a body inlet, wherein the body inlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable air to enter the interior area, 
 a body outlet, wherein the body outlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable water to pass out of the interior area toward the trap, 
 wherein the interior area extends annularly and radially outward relative to the axis beyond the body inlet and the body outlet, 
 wherein an inlet end portion of the interior area is bounded within the body by an annular tapered funnel surface, wherein the funnel surface includes a central funnel opening and is configured such that in the operative position of the plumbing fitting, the annular tapered funnel surface is closer to the axis with closer proximity to the body outlet, 
 a plurality of drain fitting openings that extend through the body to the inlet end portion of the interior area, wherein each of the plurality of drain fittings openings is disposed axially from and in the operative position of the plumbing fitting, in overlying relation above the annular tapered funnel surface, 
 wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is configured to receive either
 a drain fitting operatively connected to a water discharge device, or 
 a plug, 
 
 wherein the body includes an air gap opening, wherein the air gap opening is operative to cause the interior area to be open to atmosphere and enables water that moves up into the interior area from the body outlet to pass outside of the interior area and the body therethrough, 
 wherein in the operative position of the plumbing fitting the air gap opening is disposed radially outward from the central funnel opening and extends vertically above the body outlet and vertically below the central funnel opening, each of the drain fitting openings and the body inlet. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising:
 a generally annular spout, 
 wherein the spout has an interior that extends from the central funnel opening toward the body outlet, 
 wherein the spout includes a spout opening at an opposed end of the spout from the central funnel opening. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising:
 the water discharge device, 
 wherein the water discharge device includes at least one of
 an autoclave, 
 a sterilizer, 
 an ultrasonic cleaner, 
 an instrument washer, 
 a model trimmer, 
 a deionizing filter, 
 a reverse osmosis filter, 
 a cooler, and 
 a liquid condenser heat sink. 
 
 
     
     
       25. Apparatus comprising:
 a manifold plumbing fitting configured to be positioned in operative connection with at least one drain line above a drain trap, wherein the plumbing fitting includes:
 an annular body, wherein the body includes an interior area, wherein in an operative position the body is configured to extend along a generally vertical axis, 
 a body outlet, wherein the body outlet is coaxial with the axis and is configured to enable water to pass out of the interior area toward the trap, 
 wherein the interior area extends annularly and radially outward relative to the axis beyond the body outlet, 
 wherein an inlet end portion of the interior area is bounded within the body by an annular tapered funnel surface, wherein the funnel surface separates the inlet end portion from an outlet end portion within the interior area and includes a central funnel opening that is axially disposed away from the body outlet, wherein the tapered funnel surface is configured such that the annular tapered funnel surface is closer to the axis with closer proximity to the body outlet, 
 a plurality of drain fitting openings that extend through the body to the inlet end portion of the interior area, wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is disposed radially away from the axis, and in the operative position the annular tapered funnel surface is in underlying relation of each of plurality of drain fitting openings, 
 wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is configured to receive each of
 a drain fitting operatively connected to a water discharge device, and 
 a plug, 
 wherein only one of the drain fitting or the plug can be received in one drain fitting opening at a time, 
 
 wherein the body includes an air gap opening that extends axially intermediate of the central funnel opening and the body outlet, wherein the air gap opening is operative to cause the interior area to be open to atmosphere and enables water that moves up into the interior area from the body outlet to pass outside of the interior area and the body therethrough, 
 wherein in the operative position the air gap opening extends vertically above the body outlet and vertically below the central funnel opening and each of the drain fitting openings. 
 
 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to  claim 25 
 wherein the body further comprises: 
 a body inlet, wherein the body inlet is coaxial with the axis,
 wherein the interior area extends annularly and radially outward relative to the axis beyond the body inlet, 
 wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is disposed radially outward from the body inlet, 
 wherein in the operative position the central funnel opening is in immediately adjacent underlying relation of the body inlet. 
 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to  claim 26 
 wherein the body includes a cylindrical portion coaxial with the axis, wherein the cylindrical portion includes a cylindrical wall that in the operative position extends vertically intermediate of the central funnel opening and the body outlet, 
 wherein the air gap opening extends from the outside of the body and through the cylindrical wall to the interior area.